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DEMON SLAYER -KIMETSU NO YAIBA- The Stage Part 1 Review
I was originally skeptical at first but it didn’t take long for this production to win me over with its talent, production values and overwhelming charm.
― The more popular something is, the more mediums it is adapted into. Demon Slayer has taken the world by storm and is hands-down one of the most popular shonen series airing right now. Its original manga has sold tremendously well, merchandise is f...
Yu-Yu Hakusho Live-Action Series Review
Yu Yu Hakusho simply stands as an incredibly expensive and nostalgic commercial that will, at best, convince disappointed viewers to check out the original show.
― Yu Yu Hakusho is one of those classic action anime that I loved as a kid but have sadly never had the chance to revisit, so Netflix's new live-action adaptation of the series is the first time I've revisited the adventures of Yusuke Urames...
Godzilla Minus One Live-Action Film Review
Takashi Yamazaki's Godzilla flick grounds its story in the physical and mental aftermath of WWII, as one man wrestles with the giant monster in his mind.
― At its most basic level, Godzilla Minus One is a thought experiment: What if Godzilla appeared and attacked Japan at its weakest point—i.e., in the years right after the Second World War? It's 1947, and Japan is suffering from a severe economic de...
One Piece Live-Action Series Review
I am happy to report that our fears were misguided and that all signs seem to point to us living in a universe in which miracles can, at least occasionally, occur. Let it be known, mateys: Netflix's One Piece is good. It's really good.
― As I mentioned in my preview of One Piece's first episode, I've only recently been converted into the massive flock of fans that Eiichiro Oda's manga has grown over...
Knights of the Zodiac (live-action movie)
Despite its flashy visuals and charming cast, this version of Knights of the Zodiac fails to win over skeptics.
― Toei and Sony's answer to the ceaseless cynical question of "Why" is "Why not?" After all, Knights of the Zodiac is only the latest installment in Saint Seiya's vast media universe of manga spin-offs, TV series, and films. It's more surprising that a live-action adaptation didn't come soo...
Shin Kamen Rider
Despite its loving connection to the original, you don't need to know anything about the 50-year-running franchise to enjoy and understand this film. However, its reverence for the TV show is also the source of the film's main problem.
― Shin Kamen Rider is both a retelling of and an homage to the original 1971 Kamen Rider TV series. There are many recognizable characters and numerous shot-for-shot r...
Downfall
Downfall, adapted from the Inio Asano manga of the same name, is a film that uses one man's midlife crisis to explore the hypocritical nature of both man and the society we have built.
― Downfall, adapted from the Inio Asano manga of the same name, is a film that uses one man's midlife crisis to explore the hypocritical nature of both man and the society we have built. On one level, it is about the c...
Shin Ultraman
Shin Ultraman presents us with intrigue and heavy questions about humanity's place in the world, the many threats of the future, and the many frightening things that lurk in the shadows waiting to take advantage of our ignorance.
― You can summarize Shin Ultraman thusly: in many of the shots taking place in the SSSP ofice, SSSP member Taki's model of the USS Enterprise is proudly seen on his desk, su...
My Neighbor Totoro Stage Play
An absolutely wonderful reinterpretation of a classic, miraculously managing to be both scrupulously faithful and gleefully inventive.
― Well, they did it. The Royal Shakespeare Company's new stage version of My Neighbor Totoro is running at London's Barbican Centre and it's… let's put it like this. There's a grumpy anime director called Hayao Miyazaki, and he's famed for monstering people who give p...
Netflix's Resident Evil
Netflix's Resident Evil tries to bring together all previous iterations even when that means explaining how Albert Wesker, a man who literally got punched into a volcano in the year 2009, now finds himself alive and well in the year 2022.
― Netflix's Resident Evil is a strange beast, indeed, so far as adaptations of the legendary video game franchise are concerned. Starting all the way back in 2004, ...
Shin Ultraman
Shin Ultraman is a perfectly watchable film—though far from a great one. It's clear that the exceptional amount of creative freedom was given to the creators which brings the film to its highest highs and lowest lows.
― Before we get into this review, I think I need to make one thing absolutely clear: I'm in no way a hardcore Ultraman fan (nor am I a hater). While I know the basics through cultural o...
Cowboy Bebop Live-Action
It barely peeks beyond the soft, sanded-down edges of the MCU and its ilk. When it's not straight-up incompetent, it's dull, safe, and sterile—words that should be anathema to “the work, which becomes a new genre itself.”
― I've been around long enough to remember mockups of Keanu Reeves sporting poofy green hair pasted on top of his head. Since Cowboy Bebop's explosion in popularity in the early aug...
Gridman - The Hyper Agent
This set should have been a landmark release, but while the visual and audio presentation are top-notch, we unfortunately now must address the elephant in the room: The subtitles.
― Previously codified as a cult-classic curiosity, the last few years have been kind to the notoriety of Gridman The Hyper Agent. The international accessibility of its Ultra-Series forbears has increased, and the show itse...
Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning
On the thematic side of things, Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning tells the story of two broken people, each driven only by their own singular, all-consuming goals.
― Like many American anime fans in the 90s, my first introduction into Rurouni Kenshin wasn't the TV anime, but rather the OVA—localized at the time as Samurai X: Trust & Betrayal. In stark contrast to the light-hearted yet action-filled TV ...
Rurouni Kenshin: The Final Live-Action Film
Interestingly, it is the side characters from past films that really get a chance to shine in this film—namely Misao, Seta, and Aoishi. Even “Sword Hunter” Cho returns for a sizable supporting role in this film.
― The story of Rurouni Kenshin can basically be split into three arcs. The first arc—with Kenshin meeting Kaoru, Sano, and the rest of his new friends—is about Kenshin discovering that, despi...
Ride or Die Live-Action Film
Rei Nagasawa and Nanae Shinoda have known each other since high school. When she gets a call from Nanae asking for help, Rei walks away from her life and a happy relationship to commit murder for a woman she hasn't seen in ten years.
― Content Warning: Domestic abuse, graphic violence, graphic sex Every live-action adaptation is, to some extent, an example of Theseus' ship: How much of the original c...
Alice in Borderland Live-Action TV Series
Netflix's new series drops gamer Arisu and group of unsuspecting characters into a gruesome death game where every turn could be their last.
― The shonen manga Alice in Borderland released 18 volumes between 2010 and 2016, not counting assorted spin-offs. It also spawned a three-episode OVA series in 2014, which is, unfortunately, not legally available in English. This 2020 Netflix Original series ad...
Kaguya-sama: Love is War (live-action film)
"This film shapes up as one of the more entertaining live-action manga adaptations in recent memory because of how successfully it captures the larger-than-life qualities of a gag manga."
― I've never seen the Kaguya-sama: Love is War anime, although I have read the first volume of the manga, so I went into this film mostly blind about where the story would go past the goofy premise. I was surprised ...
Death Note: Light up the NEW world BD+DVD
This live-action sequel to the end of Death Note introduces six deadly notebooks to the world and a race against time to stop the new villains they've created. James Beckett has the details in our full review.
― Death Note: Light Up the New World begins with a pitch perfect setup. A beleaguered Russian doctor named Alexey discovers one of the new Death Notes on his way to tend to a terminally ill pat...
REVIEW: Pokémon Detective Pikachu
The most electrifying cinematic event of the year is almost upon us! Callum May has the full scoop on this refreshingly entertaining video game adaptation.
― It only took me a few minutes to start missing the world of Detective Pikachu. Being the same age as lead actor Justice Smith, Pokémon has been a constant throughout both of our childhoods. I can't tell you how much I used to wish that I'd sudde...
Alita: Battle Angel
James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez spent 200 million dollars and roughly 20 years trying to bring Yukito Kishiro's beloved cyberpunk manga to life. Now that it's finally here, is it any good? Let's find out!
― It's been a long, long, long and rocky road to release for Alita: Battle Angel. First announced in 2003 by a post-Titanic, pre-Avatar James Cameron who'd spent his Oscar afterglow making nerdy ...
Assassination Classroom - The Movies BD/DVD
Despite cutting out some key plot and character details, this tale of a class of misfits and their octopus teacher makes the transition to live-action surprisingly well. Rebecca Silverman gets into it.
― As far as manga easily adapted to live-action film goes, Assassination Classroom is easily towards the bottom of the list. Not only does it star a giant yellow octopus monster, but it also relies on ...
Bleach (live-action)
This real-life take on the classic shonen hit is available on Netflix, but does it do justice to the first arc of the original manga? Theron Martin finds out.
― Live-action adaptations of supernatural stories must be approached with trepidation, given the number of cringe-worthy efforts in the past. That caution certainly applies to this movie, which debuted in Japan in August 2018 and is now availab...
Amazon Riders
As the first Kamen Rider series to be made widely available in English, Amazon Riders has some major expectations to fulfill, but does it succeed? Chris Farris has the answers.
― The first modern Kamen Rider series made officially available in the West, Kamen Rider Amazons is a series that already sits apart from the main franchise in how experimental it is. Conceived as a darker, more adult-oriented...
REVIEW: Fullmetal Alchemist (live-action movie)
This beloved 2000s megahit is the newest to get a live-action update to the big screen, now available on Netflix after its theatrical run in Japan. Theron Martin finds out if this movie can live up to fans' expectations.
― Fullmetal Alchemist was one of the most popular and successful anime/manga franchises of the 2000s, so the only surprise surrounding this live-action adaptation might be that it di...
Gintama (Live-Action)
This shonen manga hit's first foray into live-action is both fun and rewarding for fans of the silver-haired samurai. Amy McNulty has our report from the movie's US theatrical run.
― Although this is the third time this story arc has been adapted (and the second time it's been adapted as a feature film), this version is different enough to warrant a watch from even the most Benizakura-weary Gintama f...
REVIEW: ERASED Live Action TV Series
This J-drama adaptation of the popular thriller manga hews much closer to the source material at the cost of some visual immersion. Rebecca Silverman weighs its highs and lows.
― This live-action TV series is the third adaptation of Kei Sanbe's original manga, originally titled “Bokudake ga Inai Machi,” or “A Town Without Me.” It's also the only one written by the original mangaka, which means that i...
Review: Death Note (2017)
After years of anticipation, this American adaptation of the hit manga thriller is finally available on Netflix! Jacob Chapman breaks down whether this movie is noteworthy or should just be erased.
― After at least four live-action Japanese movies, two TV series (one anime, one live-action), and mountains of spinoff media, Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata's gruesome thriller manga is no stranger to the...
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable Live-Action Film
Takashi Miike's dark and gritty take on the world of JoJo's might not be everyone's cup of tea, but is it worth watching on its own merits as an action film? Kim Morrissy finds out.
― Live-action adaptations of manga tend to have a poor reputation, often criticized for their cheesy acting and amateur-looking special effects. Not all live-action adaptations fall into these pitfalls, however, and some ...
Tokyo Ghoul (Live-Action Film)
Tokyo Ghoul makes the jump from manga to anime to a live-action film. Does the original story's spirit survive the translation? Gabriella Ekens finds out.
― Tokyo Ghoul has been one of the biggest manga hits of the past few years. As these big hits often do, the franchise recently received a live action film adaptation. These types of movies have been a mixed bag in the past, so I didn't harbor many ...
Black Butler: The Movie BD+DVD
Can this much darker live-action re-imagining capture the campy magic of the original series? Rose Bridges finds out if this Black Butler movie's got enough bite to be worth a taste.
― You can tell just from that synopsis that we're not in standard Black Butler territory anymore. This live-action film departs from the source material in its very first scene, plunging us into modern-day Japan rather t...
Ghost in the Shell (2017)
We've endured the hype for months, and the film is finally here, so we asked author Brian Ruh to tell us: is the live-action Ghost in the Shell any good? The answer is complicated.
― “Hack your own brain!” I remember sitting in a movie theater in 1995, legs bouncing from the adrenaline of excitement, ready to take in a screening of Johnny Mnemonic. I had been waiting for this film for a long time, an...
Rurouni Kenshin Part III: The Legend Ends BD+DVD
The final Kenshin film finds success in its terrific action, even if the trilogy is starting to look a little long in the tooth.
― Film trilogies are a tricky thing. It's relatively easy to make a single film with a coherent story - when a single work both introduces and concludes all of a story's narrative variables, you can create a sense of tight congruity throughout. But when a story is split acr...
Rurouni Kenshin Part II: Kyoto Inferno BD+DVD
Kyoto Inferno is a rambling but ultimately satisfying middle chapter in Kenshin’s live-action trilogy saga. Nick Creamer dives in.
― The first live-action Rurouni Kenshin accomplished a seemingly impossible feat, by translating a beloved but long-running shounen manga into a crisply paced and dramatically satisfying action movie, offering a satisfying experience for both existing Kenshin fans and new...
Review: Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins BD+DVD
The first Rurouni Kenshin film compresses a sprawling original narrative into a riveting and surprisingly faithful adaptation. Nick Creamer explores what this film does right.
― I'll confess, I'm not personally a Rurouni Kenshin diehard. Though Kenshin's heyday coincided with my own introduction into anime fandom, I never watched the full original series or read the manga it was based on. That said, ...
Review: Shin Godzilla
Evangelion creator Anno Hideaki grapples with Japan's most famous radioactive monster in Shin Godzilla, a deeply political entry in the storied franchise. Mike Toole confronts the beast.
― Every time a western film studio steps into the ring to produce a Godzilla movie, it's inevitably followed by Toho spinning the franchise back up again, to show those silly foreigners how proper kaiju movies get ma...
Orange (live-action film)
The critically acclaimed shojo manga Orange is getting an anime adaptation this summer, but Theron Martin has a review of the live-action movie right now! How does this romantic tale translate to the big screen?
― The first two volumes of Ichigo Takano's manga have already been released in the States, and its anime adaptation is one of the most anticipated shows of the Summer 2016 season. Before the ...
Review: Attack on Titan Part II: End of the World
The conclusion to the controversial live-action Attack on Titan films has arrived; Hope Chapman loved the first installment, but does the second film live up to the promise of the first? That's a tough question.
― Attack on Titan Part II begins with an unusually long, TV-style recap montage of the first film. On the one hand, it's been about a month since that first movie came out, so maybe the audie...
Review: Garm Wars: The Last Druid
Mamoru Oshii's latest live-action fantasy extravaganza has its roots deep in his previous films; Brian Ruh tries to make sense of it all, but more importantly, is the film any good?
― It's become something of a rule of thumb among some anime fans to avoid Mamoru Oshii's live-action films. On the surface, this impulse is perfectly understandable. Oshii has been widely acclaimed for being one of the fo...
Review: Attack on Titan: Part I (Live-Action Movie)
Attack on Titan makes the leap to live-action, and in doing so also makes the leap from shonen action to straight-up nightmare-inducing gruesome psychological horror. Hope Chapman survived to tell you all about it.
― There's a colossal problem in the way for any live-action version of a larger-than-life comic book. What works as a drawing doesn't always work in the flesh, and few premises make a bett...
Kite (live action) Blu-Ray/DVD
They made a live-action version of Kite, and Samuel L. Jackson's in it! The odds that it's any good must be pretty low, though, right?
― The live-action version of Kite is a 2014 South African production which is directly based on Yasuomi Umetsu's original 1998 OVA. It has a bit of a storied history, as its original director, David R. Ellis (Snakes on a Plane, Cellular, two Final Destination sequels)...
Review: Parasyte (Live-Action Film)
With the animated version of the classic manga taking off, does the first half of its live-action counterpart, directed by Takashi Yamazaki, do the story justice?
― A couple of decades since the conclusion of the original manga and after years in development hell, Parasyte finally hits the silver screen as a live-action feature. In charge of transitioning the story from its initial paper-2D incarnati...
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